Free Agency Losers: Wide Receivers and Tight Ends

Ken Kelly Posted On March 31, 2013

In this premium content installment, we take a look at the wide receivers and tight ends who were clear losers based on the movement in free agency this year. While many of these players still carry a lot of value, their outlook in dynasty leagues is simply not as good as it was prior to the free agency period starting. Some of them signed to play in less than desirable locations, while others were the victims of untimely additions by their current or former team.

Let’s take an in-depth look at each of these “Free Agency Losers” to gauge their current value in dynasty leagues. We’ll go player-by-player and detail the events that have created some definite misfortune.

Wide Receivers

Greg Jennings, WR MIN

The Vikings signed Jennings to a five year, $47 million contract to replace Percy Harvin, who they traded to Seattle. The big question in dynasty circles is if being the WR1 in Minnesota is as good as being the second or third option in Green Bay. No matter how you look at it, it’s probably bad news for Jennings and his dynasty value unless Christian Ponder can develop in a hurry. The Vikings really need to add another receiver to help Jennings avoid more defensive attention and Ponder has been less than stellar thus far in his career – that’s a bad combination. It would be reasonable to expect somewhere around 80 catches, 1,100 yards and a handful of scores for Jennings. While that’s not terrible, it’s also likely his ceiling in the offense Minnesota employs.

Davone Bess, WR MIA

Not only did the Dolphins make the biggest splash in free agency by adding speedster Mike Wallace, they also added Brandon Gibson and retained Brian Hartline. The once coveted PPR receiver is now in a huge battle just to earn a roster spot with the Dolphins. It’s conceivable the Dolphins trade him to a receiver starved team prior to the draft. His value is now at an all-time low in dynasty leagues.

Wes Welker, WR DEN

The Broncos signed Welker to a two-year, $12 million contract after the Patriots didn’t want to match his offer from Denver. Unfortunately, he will have a really hard time catching 100 passes, though he should get his fair share of targets in this high powered offense. Welker will be a very productive player for the Broncos, but his days of being one of the top five PPR receivers are likely over. He’ll be battling Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas among others for receptions and while Peyton Manning can make just about everyone relevant, it’s tough to see the move as being an upgrade for his dynasty value. He’ll simply be a good, but not elite option going forward.

Golden Tate, WR SEA

While you could make the case the addition of Harvin in Seattle hurts Doug Baldwin the most, it’s hard to get too excited about Golden Tate right now, either. Tate was already an inconsistent producer, but now he’s likely no better than the third option in the passing game behind Harvin and Sidney Rice. His value hasn’t tanked by any means, but the Seahawks already run more than they throw and it’s pretty tough to see a big breakout from Tate in the near future with Harvin now in the fold.

Mario Manningham, WR SF

The addition of Anquan Boldin and the ACL/PCL reconstruction Manningham had really eliminates any value he had left in dynasty leagues. In fact, he agreed to a major pay cut just to stay in San Francisco. Colin Kaepernick is an impressive player at quarterback, but there’s really no need to have a player who will be the fourth option in the passing game at best behind Michael Crabtree, Vernon Davis and Boldin on your roster.

Brandon Lloyd, WR FA

Lloyd put together a decent season for the Pats last year with 74 catches for 911 yards and four touchdowns. Unfortunately, he just never developed the type of chemistry the Patriots were hoping to see him have with Tom Brady. In addition, New England was said to be concerned with his up and down personality. Amazingly, he’ll now be looking for his seventh NFL team – that in itself should tell you something (along with nobody signing him as of yet). In addition, the 31-year old receiver has but a single 1,000 yard season on his resume. Lloyd is the dynasty epitome of the one hit wonder. The Patriots could bring him back, but they seem just as comfortable moving on.

Jon Baldwin, WR KC

Nothing from Andy Reid and the new coaching staff is saying “breakout” for Baldwin this season in terms of their words or actions. After signing Donnie Avery to a deal and re-signing Dwayne Bowe, the Chiefs seem to be telling Baldwin he’s not exactly in for a key role. In fact, the coaches have recently been very cryptic when talking about Baldwin in their dealings with the media, often times changing the subject or even talking about Baldwin much at all.

Eric Decker, WR DEN

This one is a little tricky.

Decker’s short-term value likely takes a hit with the signing of Welker in Denver. However, he’s a free agent at the end of the season and could be in line for a massive payday at this time next off-season if the Broncos don’t lock him up here soon. While the needle is pointing down just a bit for Decker as far as 2013 goes, don’t panic.

Tight Ends

Adrien Robinson, TE NYG

For a few days, it looked like Robinson was going to get his chance to be the centerpiece at the tight end position for the Giants. Unfortunately, the G-Men signed Brandon Myers and quickly popped that little balloon. Robinson is still an intriguing developmental project, but all the recent talk about him being a big part of the blocking scheme isn’t exactly getting people running to the waiver wires to pick him up.

Lance Kendricks, TE STL

Kendricks has been a sleeper at the position for a while now, but the signing of Jared Cook in St. Louis is going to put a huge dent in his value. The Rams may use both tight ends quite a bit in their offense, but they didn’t spend $19 million in guaranteed money on Cook to see him be a spectator.

Kellen Davis, TE CLE

Davis really lost most of his value during the season last year as he really struggled to get anything going in Chicago. The addition of Martellus Bennett by the Bears spelled the end to his time in Chi-town. The once chic developmental pick in dynasty leagues will now battle Jordan Cameron among others for snaps in Cleveland for the right to catch passes from a quarterback to be named later. Ouch.

Michael Egnew, TE MIA

The Dolphins are said to be disappointed in last year’s third round pick and the signing of Dustin Keller didn’t exactly bring with it a ringing endorsement of Egnew’s value moving forward. At this point, it’s pretty tough to see him having any value in dynasty circles.

We’ll tackle the free agency winners at quarterback and running back in the next installment.

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Ken Kelly

Co-Founder at DynastyLeagueFootball

Ken is a corporate trainer by day an a tireless editor of dynasty content by night. His passion for the World Champion Seattle Seahawks is second only to his love of fantasy football and the dynasty format.

Ken is on Twitter at DLF_KenK